Educational toy



Dec. 30, 1952 J MlNDEL 2,623,303

EDUCATIONAL TOY Filed June 13, 1949 INVENTOR.

J ons gpll ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 30, 1952 EDUCATIONAL 'ror Joseph Mindel, New York, N. L, assignor, by

direct and mesne assignments, of one-half to Jeanette Goor and one-half to Albert LKl'tlllfil', bothofArlington, Va. f r

Application June 13,1949,seriaiiiticasie,

This invention relates to toys and is more particularly concerned with educational toys for One of the objects of the invention is the pro-- vision of a toy of the type mentioned which comprises a plurality of different shaped objects and a plurality of compartments for selectively re ceiving said objects so that a child may learn not only the procedure of classification, but also the results obtained by proper classification. The latter element is an especially important feature of the invention because it provides an objective lesson in the value of classification.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for changing the geometrical characters which may be employed in using the toy.

A further object of the invention is the provision of means for gaining access to the interior of the individual compartments each of which requires a different manipulation, thereby to emphasize the differences among the classification compartments.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a toy of the type mentioned which is simple and inexpensive to manufacture, which can be readily carried by a small child, which is not dangerous to handle and which is not likely to cause injury to small children.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description considered together with the accompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the invention, including the geometrically shaped blocks that form a part of the embodiment.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross section along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary exploded isometric view of the top of one of the compartments of the embodiment illustrating the use of the various parts thereof.

Referring with more particularity to the drawing in which like numerals designate like parts, the embodiment illustrated comprises a box-like receptacle ll, having a top [2, bottom l3, and sides l4, IE, it and I1. The interior of this receptacle is divided into a plurality of compartments by partitions l8 and Ill, such as compartments 29, El, 22 and 23. Each compartment is provided with an exterior door 24, 25, 26 and 2'1, respectively, mounted on hinges 28, 29, 30 and 3 l, respectively. Each door is also provided with latch means, there being preferably a different 3Claims. ale-e) latch means for each door. For example, the drawing illustrates a sliding bolt 32 for the door 25, operated by reciprocation of the bolt; a notched bar and pin latch 33 for the door 26, operated by turning the bar handle 3d; a hook and eye latch for the door 21 operated by manipulating the hook in and out of the eye '36; and a thumb latch 37 for the door 24. Other types of latches may be used, the types shown in the drawing being for illustrative purposes only.

Over each compartment the top I2 is provided with a geometrical aperture, such as a circular aperture 33 for the compartment 20, a rectangular aperture it for the compartment 2 I a square aperture it for the compartment 22 and a triangular aperture tl for the compartment 23. Other geometrical shapes, such as elliptical, trapezoidal, cardioidal, etc., or combinations of any two or more regular or irregular shapes may be used, the shapes shown in the drawing being merely by way of illustration and not by way of limitation.

In order to permit changing the shape of the apertures of the compartments, they are preferably provided in removable pieces 42 "which fit into a larger aperture 43. The latter aperture is of a size common to all the receptacles, so that the pieces 42 may be interchanged among themselves or different members carrying different shaped apertures substituted therefor. The sides of each of the pieces 62 are preferably tapered downwardly to fit onto a complementary annular seat l i about the apertures 43. The pieces 42 may also be provided with an outwardly extending rim M to facilitate their removal and replacement.

A plurality of different geometrical pieces or blocks such as the cylindrical blocks 55, the rectangular blocks til, the cubical blocks l! and the triangular blocks til, are provided for insertion through the correspondingly shaped apertures til, 39, it and ti. Ihe blocks are preferably of a size and shape such that they will slip through only the correspondingly shaped apertures. The child in playing with the toy will thereby be compelled to insert the proper blocks through the proper apertures. When all the pieces have been inserted, the child, in order to recover the blocks, is compelled to open the doors whereupon he discovers the blocks sorted in accordance with their geometrical shapes. In other words, each compartment will contain only the blocks of one geometrical shape. In opening the doors, the child will also be required to manipulate the latches. Since each latch is distinct from the others, a mental association indicating that there are differences among the various compartments Will be established, at the same time the child will learn the manner of opening and closing different types of latches.

Various modifications of the invention may be made. For example, the top over each compartment or the insert pieces 42 thereof may be painted a diiferent color corresponding to the blocks to teach the child color identity. This may be made more difiicult by having all the holes of the same geometrical pattern differing amon themselves only in color. Instead of using colors, pictures of animals or object may be used.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. An educational toy comprising a plurality of compartments, means for gaining access to the interior of each compartment, each compartment having an aperture therethrough and a member adapted to be removably disposed in said aperture, each of said members having an aperture therethrough of distinctive shape relative to the apertures of the other members, an blocks of correspondingly distinctive shapes for insertion through said last mentioned apertures.

2. An educational toy as defined by claim 1 in which the members are provided with a flanged rim.

3. An educational toy as defined by claim 1 in which the members are provided with tapered sides and the apertures into which they fit are provided with seats to receive said tapered sides.

JOSEPH MINDEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file o this patent:

STATES PATENTS Name Date Gates Oct. 20, 1903 Segal Mar. 4, 1947 OTHER REFERENCES Number and Supplies, catalo the Chica Ill,

61 and 147; received in Patent Offic'e August .6, 1930. 

